2009 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

You can't get this racer unless you plan to race it.

This Porsche will set you back $415,000, and you can't even drive it on the street. A revised 911 GT3 RSR has just been launched for the 2009 racing season. The RSR is designed to compete in the GT2 class of the American Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Only 20 will be made.

This season’s RSR is distinguished by new louvers on the front hood, necessary to optimize air flow to the air-conditioning system, added to comply with new regulations. The rear spoiler can be better adjusted to different racing conditions, and underbody aerodynamics are improved. Weight has been cut through the use of lighter wiring and a lighter braking system.

We have all seen races with virtually no passing activity on the track, where quick pit stops are the main competitive advantage. With the new RSR, these stops are accelerated by an air-jack system with an overpressure valve and a fast oil-refilling inlet on the engine cover. And since the coolest paint job won't help your pit crew identify you at night, the on-board electrical system controller now lets you adjust the frequency of an intermittent signal light on the front bumper to any interval between slow and frantic.

Most important, the heart of the RSR has been upgraded to improve the torque curve and drivability. While the bore stays at 102.7mm, stroke is increased from 76.4mm to 80.4mm. Total displacement of this 24-valve flat-six grows from 3795cc to 3996cc. The general rev level has been significantly lowered, says Porsche. Since this season brings a reduction of the air restrictor size, power drops from 465 hp to 450, available at 7800 rpm. Maximum torque is down very slightly to 317 lb-ft at 7250 rpm. The rev limiter kicks in at 9000 rpm but can be reprogrammed to allow 9400 rpm. A true dry-sump lubrication system ensures the engine can withstand high g forces. And you get a cool six-speed sequential gearbox.

Porsche typically offers three racing versions of the 911 GT3: The GT3 Cup, which is very similar to the series-production GT3 and competes in the Porsche Supercup spec series; the GT3 Cup S, which shares its architecture with the RSR and races in the GT3 series; and the fastest and most expensive RSR model, which races in the GT2 class.

Notably, the new RSR carries over the taillights of the first-generation 997, which is gradually being phased out. And unlike the street-going 911, the latest RSR foregoes direct-injection technology.

The series-production GT3, will shortly receive most 997 phase II changes, including new taillights but not direct-injection. It will appear at the Geneva auto show in early March.

We hear that Porsche will use the next Cup version of the GT3, which could be shown in the fall of 2009, to test some hardware for series production. Altered bonnets and fenders will improve aerodynamics, and structural changes under the skin, likely including the position of the dashboard, will give a glimpse of the completely new 911 that is due to be launched in 2011 or 2012.